Now I know why the LB's didn't want us to go home for holiday's, birthday's, weddings, etc. They didn't want us to get any outside perspective. . . . Oh, things are really making sense now.
This reminded me of something I wrote the day after my exit interview.
I do not know what the "stages of Lodge-withdrawal" are suppose to be, but I referred to it as my
sarcastic stage:
GG was around 48 years old when I met him,
He never could remember anyone's name,
He needs a good retirement plan and
He has a few kid's to put thru college.
He suddenly realizes that he has the pattern, the Lord has laid it out before his eyes....
He has these friend Steve Irons and Margaret. They are nice people, so anyone meeting them would be convinced this is a good place to be.
His kids can work their way thru college by gathering follows among those who have been abused, you know the drug addicts, prostitutes, those from abusive homes.
He could continue to abuse them, but in a way that they can feel good about. They could give their lives for "this ministry".
And then he could set his sons up with the best super-models among the abusites. Once he has enough to support himself, he can set them up with their own franchises.
He can also set up a pyramid scheme where any abusite who gathers enough followers can think they have their own franchise. Of course they would need to forward him his retirement account to distribute, he would draw a circle on the ground and throw the money up into the air. Whatever part stays up, heaven can keep, whatever it throws back is for his retirement account.
He could adapt the best messages from those who have done this before, you know:
the way of the cross to keep the abusites cycling thru abusive behaviors,
the persecution as a sign of the Lord's soon return, so that the more ones try to pull them out the harder they cling
the faithful remnant, so they don't think they can just leave and go to another Lodge
church discipline to keep the abusites from listening to those who walk out on us.
Did you ever read Martin Luther's writings? He started by pointing out how bad it was to get in debt with building funds like St. Peter's
and went on to have everyone keep a hectic schedule like the monks, but rather than wasting time in a monastery, they could be out working making an income with no time to spend it.
He could cancel Christmas and Easter is to increase friction with the abusites' natural family, so they will not be tempted to return to mom and dad. He could even use the best part from the Catholics, he could be the pope with workers thru out the world reporting to him, and followers rewarded for how much they bring in to earn heaven.
but he would preach that he is only a brother among brothers (see Steve has a part)
Don't worry, he would never stab Steve Irons in the back when he is no longer needed.